Santa’s Helpers Recycle Sale set for Saturday, Dec. 8

Interested sellers should reserve tables soon to make the event a success

With Black Friday upon us, getting into the full-swing of Christmas shopping has begun. Instead of making a mad dash to the latest Lalaloopsy or Hot Wheels aisle and throwing elbows to snag the last one for your child, try a tamer shopping experience.

On Dec. 8, Jasper County Conservation will team up with the Jasper County Community Center to host the Santa’s Helper’s Recycle Sale from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The goal of the event is to act as a mass garage sale of sorts where area residents can bring in their kids’ gently used clothing and toys to sell or trade just in time for Christmas.

“I have a family friend in Johnstown, Pa., and she started this about five years ago and said the response has been amazing,” said Chrissy Rea, naturalist with JCC. “She publicizes it through the churches in her area, and I’ve contacted every church in Newton. It’s really just a way for people to get a second life out of the toys or clothes that children don’t use anymore, and really is an affordable way for people to Christmas shop.”

Anything clean is fair game to bring to the sale, from clothes and movies to puzzles and books. However, Rea asks that used car seats be left at home so there are no safety liability issues.

Those interested in participating in the sale as a seller must reserve a table — free of charge — in advance by calling (641) 792-9780 or emailing crea@co.jasper.ia.us. If no tables are reserved, the event cannot take place.

Each seller at the event will be in control of their own earnings, as neither the JCC nor community center will profit from the program.

“Everyone will handle their own money and their own barter, so if they’d like to trade — say, if the person next to you has 2T clothes and you have 4T clothes and that’s what they need and that’s what you need, you can trade,” Rea said. “But prices need to stay low, like garage sale low, to keep everything affordable.

“It’s a program to promote recycling, reusing and reducing, and hopefully we can help some people out in the meantime,” she added.

Amy Martens can be contacted at (641) 792-3121 ext. 426 or via email at amartens@newtondailynews.com.